Metro

Israeli consulate, Palestinian mission among targets in early morning NYC vandalism spree

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Published June 12, 2024
Updated June 12, 2024, 5:50 p.m. ET

A trio of vandals chucked red paint at a Palestinian mission and a luxury Upper East Side building Wednesday morning — hours before a pair of firebugs torched two American flags outside the Israeli consulate, authorities said.

The group began their spree around 5 a.m., splashing paint on the front entrance of a luxury building bordering Central Park on Fifth Avenue near East 65th Street, cops said.

In 2016, the building was dubbed “Manhattan’s most elite address,” home to billionaires and Wall Street executives, according to a Forbes report.

115 E 65st., Mhtn. Location of Palestinian Mission. Across this block; between Park and Lexington Ave., in the street and sidewalk, as well as onto parked NYPD car in front of 115 E 65st., red paint, rocks, and political flyers were scattered throughout. A tarp banner was folded and removed from scene. NYPD arrived and closed off block to investigate.
The trio splashed red paint on the the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations on East 65th Street near Park Avenue, cops said. Robert Miller
NYC German consulate
The scene outside of the German consulate in New York. Christopher Sadowski

The three suspects then flung a bucket of paint at the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations on East 65th Street near Park Avenue around 6 a.m., cops said.

An NYPD cruiser parked in front of the building was covered in paint splatter, photos and videos show.

The NYPD did not have any details on the vandalism to the department vehicle.

115 E 65st., Mhtn. Location of Palestinian Mission. Across this block; between Park and Lexington Ave., in the street and sidewalk, as well as onto parked NYPD car in front of 115 E 65st., red paint, rocks, and political flyers were scattered throughout. A tarp banner was folded and removed from scene. NYPD arrived and closed off block to investigate.
An NYPD cruiser was also splattered with paint outside the Palestinian mission. Robert Miller

The suspects were part of a group of 15 demonstrators who fled in a white U-Haul truck and have not been caught, according to law enforcement sources.

Then in the middle of the morning rush, two men set a pair of American flags ablaze in front of the Consulate General of Israel in New York on Second Avenue near East 42nd Street, cops said.

One of the men was taken into custody with charges pending, police said.

NYC german consulate
All of the incidents are under investigation by the NYPD. Christopher Sadowski
115 E 65st., Mhtn. Location of Palestinian Mission. Across this block; between Park and Lexington Ave., in the street and sidewalk, as well as onto parked NYPD car in front of 115 E 65st., red paint, rocks, and political flyers were scattered throughout. A tarp banner was folded and removed from scene. NYPD arrived and closed off block to investigate.
The red-paint vandals also targeted a luxury building bordering Central Park on Fifth Avenue near East 65th Street, cops said. Robert Miller
The incidents followed a similar crime spree in Brooklyn in which vandals tossed red paint and scrawled “blood on your hands” across the homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s director and a number of its Jewish board members. Robert Miller
Residents from area at scene. 115 E 65st., Mhtn. Location of Palestinian Mission. Across this block; between Park and Lexington Ave., in the street and sidewalk, as well as onto parked NYPD car in front of 115 E 65st., red paint, rocks, and political flyers were scattered throughout. A tarp banner was folded and removed from scene. NYPD arrived and closed off block to investigate.
The NYPD could not immediately confirm whether the acts of vandalism were connected. Robert Miller

In a similar incident, multiple people clad in head scarves hopped out of a gray-colored vehicle and chucked fliers in front of the German Consulate General on First Avenue near East 49th Street around 3:30 a.m., authorities said.  

They then threw paint at the front door before taking off in their ride, heading north on First Avenue, cops said. 

The crimes came hours after antisemitic vandals tossed red paint and scrawled “blood on your hands” across the homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s director and a number of its Jewish board members.

Director Anne Pasternak’s co-op apartment building in Brooklyn Heights was among those targeted by the vile mob when they strung up a sign that screamed, “Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White Supremacist Zionist.”

The NYPD said all of the incidents are under investigation, but could not immediately confirm if they are connected.